Jefferson County Boosts Fight Against Overdoses with Narcan Vending Machines

The Jefferson County Department of Health has secured a $1.5 million grant from the CDC’s Overdose Data to Action program, aimed at countering drug overdoses. The department intends to use these funds to install vending machines in areas of high need. These machines will dispense critical harm reduction resources, including Naloxone and fentanyl test strips, enhancing their accessibility to those hesitant to procure them from government facilities. Alongside this initiative, an app is being developed to facilitate online training on these resources. The push for these proactive measures comes amid rising concerns about the risk of opioid overdoses from substances procured outside of professional healthcare settings. To further combat opioid overdose deaths in the county, the department plans to collaborate with local community groups to distribute more Naloxone, now available over-the-counter. In addition, free hour-long training sessions on opioid overdose recognition and response using naloxone are available from the Jefferson County Department of Health.